Wrapping up Sydney…Final cruise tally…Shocking numbers…New Sydney photos…

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The early morning lights of Luna Park, Sydney.

Spending only a half a day in Sydney, viewing the amazing port, as seen from the ship, and driving through the city to the airport gave us a perception that it is truly an amazing city. 

We’ll be returning and staying overnight on several occasions as we board more cruises to tour this amazing continent. Australians spend a lifetime scouring this vast continent never feeling they’ve even scratched the surface. 

Image showing Australia and the British Isles sizes compared
Australia compared to the size of the US is nearly as big.  Our perception may have been it’s a large island. From this map, it’s evident that not the case, and its vastness and wilderness are unique in many ways as we’ll illustrate over the next many months.

As the world’s sixth-largest country after Canada, Russia, China. USA and Brazil, its size exceeded our perceptions of years past. For us, as visitors for so little time, we’d decided cruising around the country would give us a better opportunity to explore its many major states and cities. 

At some point, down the road during gaps in our schedule, we may decide to rent a “caravan” (an RV) to further explore the mysterious barren Outback which intrigues both of us.

Even the glow of the ship against the backdrop of the beautiful harbor was appealing.

For now, we’ve moved into our Trinity Beach home for the next three months and as soon as it stops raining, we’ll begin taking endless photos of the exquisite beauty surrounding us. The property is exactly as shown in the photos and the owners, Sylvie and Andy, living quietly above us, are even more charming than expected.  It couldn’t be more desirable. Photos to come tomorrow.

Getting here was challenging. We were exhausted and hungry after a long 12 hour travel day. But we always recall the 36 hour travel day to Africa to remind ourselves how short, these less trying days can be, comparatively.

Buildings line up along the shore.

On the way from the airport to Trinity Beach, we stopped at a Woolworth’s grocery store to buy bottled water, cream, roasted chickens, and salad for dinner. We hadn’t had a bite all day and needed quick sustenance. The store was much more well-stocked than we’d expected and today we’ll return to do the first big shopping. 

Renting the car was somewhat of a fiasco when our prepaid reservation was missing which finally they found after considerable time and effort. They rented us our usual smallish vehicle, some Mazda model into which our luggage manages to fit.

There’s no doubt that Sydney is one of the most beautiful port cities in the world.

By the end of today, we’ll be totally unpacked and situated, with piles of laundry to wash and dry. With our own washer and dryer right outside the front door, it will be a breeze.

We’ve always heard about the Harbour Bridge but had no idea how impressive it would be in person.

With the rush over the past few days, we had little opportunity to elaborate on our final cruise expenses. Here they are in detail including the cruise fare.
USD               AUD
Cruise fare including taxes, fees, and gratuities:           6,011.63       7,754.39
Final bill from 17 nights incl. wifi, cocktails, spec. din.:  1,577.19        2,034.41
Additional out of pocket cash gratuities:                         200.00          257.97
Tours, not included in the bill:                                         75.00           96.74
Grand Total:                                                            $7,863.80   $10,143.50
Average Cost per day (for two):                                $   462.58   $     596.68

Our usual average cost per day when living in rentals, paying for rental cars, groceries, tours, dining out, and miscellaneous is approximately US $200, AUD $257.97. By cruising, as opposed to flying, which may have been as much as US $3000, AUD $3871.12 we really didn’t pay much more at approximately an extra US $86, AUD $110.97 per day than our usual living costs.

Another view of the famous Sydney Opera House.

For the extra difference, the extraordinary experience made it well worth the expenditure. We’re pleasantly shocked by these numbers.

We’ll be back tomorrow with photos of our new home as we wait for the rain and cloudy skies to clear. You won’t be disappointed. Nor are we!

                                                 Photo from one year ago on June 12, 2014:

We drove to the village of Boa Morte to check out the scenery. For details, please click here.

Photo from one year ago today, June 11, 2014:

We never thought we’d have views comparable to those in Madeira but we’re beginning to think that the views here in Trinity Beach may compare. For details, please click here.

Lump sums due this week…The Kauai Path…more tomorrow…A year ago, a cart and a cart pusher in Marrakech…

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Although we haven’t had a sunny day in almost a week, we’d saved these photos to share as a reminder that soon the sun will shine again.

We knew the month of March would require a few good-sized lump sum payments for vacation rentals and cruises. These big payments are a part of our life and try as we may, we still cringe a little when they come due.

Kealia Beach as we walked along the Kauai Path on a sunny day. When the weather clears we’ll return another day to walk the opposite end of the path we’ve yet to explore.

Then again, we don’t have utility bills, cable bills, yard service, and household repairs and maintenance. Instead, we prepay rent for two to three months, in full, well in advance of occupying the premises. 

The jetty at the beach in Kapaa.

When most travelers pay for a vacation rental or hotel, most likely they are paying for one or two weeks. For us, the month’s long rentals often require amounts due close to $10,000. For cruises, there’s often a balance owing after a deposit of $5000 or $6000.

This week, we’ll pay the second payment for the Trinity Beach, Australia house of $3115, paying the balance one month before our move-in date of June 11, 2015. The cruise we’re taking from Honolulu to Sydney on May 24th has a balance owing this week of $5110. 

A map of the Kauai Path on display when we began the long walk to the right from the center.

Therefore, this week we’ll shell out $8225. The upside of this is that our rent will be paid up through September 8, 2015. In May, we’ll pay for the next rental in Fiji and so on. Although we’re always paid well in advance we continue to have future rental balances payable in advance. 

Keeping careful documentation is a vital portion of our travels. At any given time, we can reference our Excel workbook for up-to-the-minute records of all of our current and future expenses, travel dates, reservations, itinerary, and so on, copies of which we store in two separate clouds, an external hard drive, and two laptops.  That’s backup for you!

We’ve yet had to leave a beach unable to find a parking spot, even on the most perfect days.

Of course, I cringe a little when these sums are due and sigh with relief when the payments are processed, putting it all behind me. How do we pay for these? The balance of the rental is usually paid via PayPal which charges fees for processing. 

In some cases, the owner will pay the PayPal fees and in other cases, after we’ve negotiated a good rental rate, we may agree to pay the fees. If an owner is providing us with a good discount for our extended stay, you bet we’ll agree to pay the fees.

The shore wasn’t sandy at varying points on the Kauai path yet a few sunbathers’s found a more private spot.

As for the cruises, as we continue to work with Vacationstogo.com for the best fares, they automatically charge our credit card on file on the date the balance of the full fare is due usually 75 to 90 days before sailing depending on the cruise line. Once paid, we receive a paid in full receipt by email. 

The cruise lines have varying schedules as to when and how much one may recovery if they cancel after the payment is made. The policies are clearly defined in the cruise documents with a rare exception for an alternate option in case of emergency. 

At certain points, the shore was filled with lava rock.

It’s always sad to read about passengers with a need to cancel a cruise when illness strikes and their frustration when they can’t get a refund. Sadly, it’s the nature of the beast. 

Speaking of cruising, last night we watched the new TV show, “Escape.” This first two-hour episode in the series was the sinking of the Costa Concordia in January 2012. We both watched in silence, our mouths agape over the horrifying events of this tragic situation and loss of life.

Had a pair of lovers recently made this heart?

When the show was over, Tom asked me if it had an effect on me regarding our five upcoming booked cruises. The biggest effect on us both was from the loss of lives and their family member’s grief and sorrow and, the trauma suffered by the survivors. We’d originally heard about this a year before we took our first cruise.

Of course, we’ll think about it next time we go on a muster drill and pay even more attention than in the past and again from time to time when we hear unusual noises aboard a ship. Human error. Its rampant and at times the cause of tragic events. 

A determined fisherman stood on the rocks hoping for the “catch of the day.”

As much as we’d all like to have a guaranty of safety in our lives and a guaranty of good health, these simply aren’t available. But, we can choose not to worry over those situations over which we have no control and which, most likely, will never occur.

As for any angst over lump-sum payments, once they are done, I always let it go. We’ve budgeted for these expenses, we’ve made them affordable and they are a part of the amazing life we’ve chosen to live.

We’d just missed a photo of a whale’s full body breach. Darn it!

Happy Monday to those who still work. Find peace in knowing that someday, you’ll have the time to live your dreams, whether it’s reading a good book on the veranda, planting flowers in the garden, or stretching yourself to do that which you never imagined you’d do.

As for retirees…why do you care that it’s Monday? We don’t.

                                             Photo from one year ago today, March 2, 2015:

Once our driver delivered us from the airport in Marrakech to the Medina we were met by Adile, one of the four staff members of our “riad” located in the heart of the souks and, the cart handler who wheeled our luggage to the property. It was quite a walk through the Medina and the souk. We were exhausted from the long flight and layovers but, the excitement energized us as we took in the unbelievable sights before our eyes. For more details and photos, please click here.

Upcoming cruises with visits to many locations…A year ago…interesting new visitors…

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Another of Tom’s exquisite sunrise photos.

Yesterday, as we sat in the lawn chairs whale watching with fervor, we realized that in only a few days, we’ll no longer be this close to the ocean, able to watch for the gentle giants when we see signs of life whether we’re peering out the window or sitting outside.

In our new home, a condo in Princeville, Kauai, it will require we walk across the street, carrying lawn chairs in order to get close enough to take photos of the whales.  We’ll have views of the sea from the condo but it will just be too far to see from what we can determine from the photos.

We’ve been spoiled these past months since we arrived in Maui on October 16th when our close proximity to the ocean made every view exquisite.  Now, three months later, we move along to live on the last of four Hawaiian Islands arriving in Honolulu on October 5th, off the Celebrity Solstice after a 12 day cruise from Vancouver.


Its winter in Hawaii and yet the hearty Hibiscus flowers continue to bloom.

And again, as we mentioned in the past two posts, we’ve now booked two more cruises on this same ship, one we’ve found ideal for our liking.

Today, as promised we’re listing the five upcoming cruises we’ve booked, each of which offers its own unique ports with only a few repeats here and there.

Let’s face it, the major cruise lines only take so many routes worldwide.  Although it may appear they travel all over the world, they do not.  They have specific routes, repeated over and over again.  Frequent cruisers are aware of this fact, often experiencing similar cruises several times, including visiting the same ports of call.

At this point, we’re satisfied if a new cruise takes us to two or three new ports of call.  When we visit ports we’ve previously experienced, we usually stay behind, enjoying the quiet on the ship, choice of chairs by the pool and the good WiFi signal for posting using the rented MiFi.  In any case, we enjoy it all.

As promised, here is the information on our five upcoming cruises including the cost:














































Honolulu
to Sydney		 18 days 5/24/2015 6/11/2015   $  6,010.64
Sydney to
Auckland		 14 days 1/5/2016 1/19/2016   $  4,771.32
Sydney to Perth 16 days 4/12/2016 4/28/2016   $  4,714.20
Singapore to Sydney 14 days 10/31/2016  11/14/2016 $  4,143.81
Sydney to
Sydney		 12 days 3/1/2017 3/13/2017 $  4,820.36


Total for five above cruises:          $24,460.33
Average cost per day for 74 days: $     330.55 (for both of us)

Our usual average cost per day while living in vacation rentals is approximately $200 per day including meals, dining out and rental cars.  In this case, cruising is $130.55 more per day plus additional charges for WiFi and beverages at an average of $78 per day for an additional total of $209.55 per day x 74 days, equals an additional $15,506.70. 

As a result of the added expenses of cruising, we’ve managed to find vacation homes, buying groceries and rental cars at reasonable enough prices to bring down the average daily costs around the $200 each.  The magic of diligent planning enables us to cruise and to live comfortably all over the world.


A palm tree, a Hibiscus plant and a blue sky.  Many days are cloudy on this island, as much as 60% from what we’ve seen over these past six weeks.  A sunny day is glorious!

As I write this, Tom suggested we list the ports of call for all of these cruises to illustrate how much of the world we have an opportunity to see while cruising, adding considerable value to the process.

Here’s the complete list some of which may include more than one stop at a specific location as mentioned above, that ports of call may be repeat visit on various cruises:

  1. Moorea, Society Islands
  2. Papeete, Tahiti, Society Island
  3. Bora Bora, Society Islands
  4. Savu, Fiji
  5. Ill des Pins, New Caledonia
  6. Sydney, Australia
  7. Melbourne, Australia
  8. Hobart, Tazmania, Australia
  9. Milford Sound, New Zealand (cruising only)
  10. Doubtful Sound, New Zealand (cruising only)
  11. Dusky Sound, New Zealand (cruising only)
  12. Dunedin (port Chalmers), New Zealand
  13. Akaroa, New Zealand
  14. Wellington, New Zealand
  15. Tauranga, New Zealand
  16. Bay of Islands, New Zealand
  17. Auckland, New Zealand
  18. Picton, New Zealand
  19. Adelaide, Australia
  20. Perth, Australia (Fremantle, Australia)
  21. Singapore, Indonesia
  22. Benoa, Bali, Indonesia
  23. Darwin, Australia
  24. Cairns, Australia
  25. Airlie Beach, Australia
  26. Brisbane, Australia
  27. Nounea, New Caledonia
  28. Lifou, New Caledonia
  29. Mystery Island, Vanuatu
  30. Lautoka, Fiji

Only approximately six of these are repeats for us.  How in the world would we have every been able to visit these 30 locations without cruising?  The time, the cost and the effort would far exceed the glorious 74 days of cruising which we so thoroughly enjoy?

Add the facts that cruising enables us to meet so many fabulous people, many of whom we’ve stayed in touch with over these past two plus years, enhances the experience beyond our wildest dreams.  These are the reasons we choose to cruise.

The tiny cabin, often around 194 square feet, the risks of rough waters, the difficulty of managing my way of eating, the constant WiFi issues and the lack of dressy clothing for the formal nights, the crowds at certain venues, all are manageable for us.  We don’t complain.  When weighing the pros and cons of cruises, the pros win for us.  We love every moment, rough seas included.


We’ve noticed this peculiar drooping plant on the past three islands we’ve visited.

Today, perhaps a little organizing, a little tossing of worn clothing and a little time in the lawn chair whale watching.  Tonight and tomorrow night, we’ll fire up the charcoal grill to make the last of the frozen hamburger patties we’d made and we’d stored in Ziplock bags in the freezer.

We’re happily using most of the perishable food, leaving some non-perishable foods for the next occupants of this house and sending the remainder to ourselves in Kauai.

It’s all good.  Good as it can be.

Happy Monday to all!
_______________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, January 12, 2014:

It was exciting one year ago, for the visit of hundreds of these grasshopper visitors in our driveway in Marloth Park.  Everyday provided an exciting new experience.  We spent the day watching and videotaping the activity of this “family” of grasshoppers including their babies.  To see the videos from that date, please click here.

The second cruise we booked on Friday…

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Red berries growing on a palm tree.

It’s odd how we often book two cruises at once or I should say, Tom books two cruises at once. I suppose he decides to book two cruises when it’s related to the fact that particular promotion is taking place at the time of booking.

Celebrity has a promotion at this time, called, “1, 2,3 Go!” which includes: one, cost of gratuities; two, value of an onboard cabin credit; and three, which is the drink package for two, valued at roughly $60 per person per day.  If one chooses the “concierge class” (an upgraded cabin and location), all three promos are included. If you choose certain balcony classes, a traveler may choose one or two of the three options.

Celebrity Solstice, which we sailed on our way to Honolulu in October is the same ship for these two recently booked cruises.

We weren’t able to choose the “1,2,3 Go!” package when booking the cruise, we posted yesterday when it wasn’t available for that particular sailing.

Tom always tries to make it work that we get all three when the cost differential is worthwhile since the upgraded cabins have a higher cost. The big issue for us is that I don’t drink alcohol, juice, or sugary beverages, making it redundant for me to end up with a “free” drink package.  How much included bottled water can one drink in a day?

Here’s a link that further explains the “1, 2, 3 Go!” package.

Plus, Tom has to factor in that he only drinks a few cocktails each day. Does having a “free” drink package make him drink more? Perhaps. It would be hard to resist for any cruise passenger. Tom’s fun when he drinks, never sloppy, never drunk or embarrassing, so I don’t mind a bit.

As it turns out, based on Tom’s calculations, it made sense to upgrade to the concierge class for the cruise described here today, as opposed to the cruise info we posted yesterday where it made no sense financially, although we did book a good balcony cabin in a good location at an increased price.

Below are the many features of the Celebrity Solstice, the ship for both of these two recently booked cruises: 

 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2008
Tonnage 122,000 tons
Registry Malta
Length 1,033 feet
Beam 121 feet
Passenger Capacity 2,850
Crew Size 999
Total Inside Cabins 102
Total Outside Cabins 1,323
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 1,177
Suites 56
Maximum Occupancy per room 5
Age Restrictions One person must be 21 or older
Dinner Seatings 2
Seating Assignments
in Main Dining Room		 Assigned
Dining Hours 6:15 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Recommended? Yes
Tipping Guidelines Added to onboard account. $12.00 per person, per day in staterooms, $12.50 per person, per day for Concierge/Aqua class, $15.50 per person, per day for Suites. 15% tip included on beverage orders.
Onboard Currency US Dollar
Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges 14
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Casino Yes
Chapel No
Disco/Dancing Yes
Elevators Yes
Hot Tub 10
Cell Phone Service Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Note: Available in certain areas
Laundry/Dry Cleaning Yes
Library Yes
Movie Theatre Yes
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings Yes
Self Serve Laundromats No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Spa Yes
Video Arcade Yes
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court Yes
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator No
Ice Skating Rink No
Jogging Track Yes
Mini-Golf Course No
Rock Climbing Wall No
Swimming Pool 3
Tennis Court No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Cabin Features & Amenities
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting Yes
Children’s Playroom Yes
Kiddie Pool No
Supervised Youth Program Yes
Teen Center Yes
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		 Yes
Kosher Meals Yes
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins


Soon, we’ll figure out where to live in the South Pacific during this gap in time. While living in Kauai, we’ll continue the process of figuring out where we’ll spend this period of time. The options are many based on our location at the time.

Our total cost for this cruise is $4820 which includes all taxes, gratuities, and subsequent credits. On top of this expense is the cost for the “bill” we receive at the end of the cruise including (if no drink package); alcoholic and other beverages, bottled water (tea and coffee are free),  the ship’s WiFi fees (cost per minute), purchases in the shops, visits to the doctor and cost for spa services or any other services not included in the fare.

Here’s the cruise information for this later cruise on the same ship, the Celebrity Solstice, three and a half months after the cruise we listed yesterday. We continue to book all of our cruises with vacationstogo.com:


FastDeal		 12360
12 nights departing March 1, 2017 on
Celebrity’s Celebrity Solstice
Brochure Inside $3,398
Our Inside $1,699
You Save 50%
Brochure Oceanview $3,798
Our Oceanview $1,824
You Save 52%
Brochure Balcony $4,098
Our Balcony $1,949
You Save 52%
Brochure Suite $6,098
Our Suite $3,049
You Save 50%
$$$ Book select oceanview and balcony categories, and choose one of the following offers: a $300 per cabin onboard credit, FREE pre-paid gratuities (a per cabin value of $288), or a FREE beverage package for two, which includes select alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard (a per cabin value of $1,176). Book select suite categories, and receive all 3 offers:  a $300 per cabin onboard credit plus the pre-paid gratuities (a per cabin value of $372) and beverage packages listed above.
Promotions may not be combinable with all fares.
The prices shown are US dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. They include port charges but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees.
Important Note: Visas are required for this itinerary.
ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Wed Mar 1 Sydney, Australia 6:30pm
Thu Mar 2 At Sea
Fri Mar 3 At Sea
Sat Mar 4 Noumea, New Caledonia 8:00am 5:00pm
Sun Mar 5 Lifou, New Caledonia 8:00am 5:00pm
Mon Mar 6 Mystery Island, Vanuatu 8:00am 5:00pm
Tue Mar 7 At Sea
Wed Mar 8 Suva, Fiji 8:00am 5:00pm
Thu Mar 9 Lautoka, Fiji 7:00am 4:00pm
Fri Mar 10 At Sea
Sat Mar 11 At Sea
Sun Mar 12 At Sea
Mon Mar 13 Sydney, Australia 6:30am

Considering all of the above, our usual bill at the end of each cruise for 14 days, runs around $1100, most of which is for WiFi. Also, we always have XcomGlobal’s MiFi with us when cruising, at an additional cost of about $400 per month with a limited amount of data per day only working on the days we’re in port. 

Out to sea, we have no option but to use the ship’s Internet which is expensive and unreliable. I’m a cheap date on a cruise and Tom doesn’t charge more than his drinks. My drinks are all free when I only drink iced tea and coffee and the ship’s reverse osmosis purified water. I don’t care for massages or spa services and I rarely buy anything in the various overpriced shops. I do use a fair amount of WiFi when writing our posts each day but then again so does Tom, helping with research and entertaining himself while I work on the photos and stories to post.

We won’t book any additional cruises until after we purchase more “deposit vouchers” onboard our next cruise this upcoming May enabling us to pay only $100 per person deposit as opposed to $450 per person deposit. To purchase these, we don’t have to have a specific cruise in mind and these vouchers have no end date.

Yesterday, we’d mentioned listing our five booked future cruises, costs, dates, etc. However, as long as today’s post proved to be, we’ll wait and post these tomorrow. We apologize for changing this plan last minute. 

Have a restful Sunday!

                                           Photo from one year ago today, January 11, 2014:

One year ago we posted this photo we took from the veranda in Marloth Park. Oh, how we loved the visits from the gentle friendly zebra often arriving in all-male herds. For a funny zebra video and more, please click here.

Exciting future bookings…He just can’t wait! A year ago, a terrifying visitor! See photo…

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Low lying clouds over the ocean at 5:00 pm.

When a cruise line has special pricing, Tom starts chomping at the bit. He can’t help it. He loves cruising. That’s not to say I don’t love it. But, he loves it more. 

Not only does he love the cruise itself but he absolutely is fascinated with the planning and booking process. He researches cruisecritic.com for comments from recent cruise passengers on past cruises as to the best cabins for the particular ship, the appropriate side of the ship, port (left) or starboard (right) for the best views during the cruise based on the locations, and the best promotions and packages to choose.

View across the side yard on yet another cloudy day.

As he’s gathering all the information, he writes down all the particulars, (in this case he wrote on a brown grocery bag when we couldn’t find a pad of paper), performing financial analysis as to the best options, average daily rates, and benefits to taking the cruise.

Oh, good grief.  I stay out of the cruise planning.  He need only tell me where, when, and how much and I’m happy. Once we’ve booked a cruise, he reads me the data from the “cruise confirmation” documents that arrive in my email upon booking and paying a deposit, enabling me to enter the pertinent data into various sheets in our Excel workbook: Itinerary, Deposits Paid, Cruises Booked.

A nice feature of booking cruises is the fact that one can cancel with a 100% return of the deposit up to 90 days before sailing. If not canceled, at that 90-day point, the balance is automatically charged to the credit card on file. Partial deposits may be refunded as a sail date approaches based on the number of days of the cruise and the dates the cancellation is requested. 

A lone tree survives the strong trade winds.

To date, we’ve canceled only one cruise which was well before the 90 day period, receiving a 100% deposit.  After sailing on the Norwegian Epic, we decided to cancel a future cruise, we’d booked on the Epic a second time. We hadn’t liked the ship, although it survived the 50-foot swells at sea for three days. 

The Epic was poorly designed to our liking, too large and difficult to maneuver from area to area.  In addition, the design of walking through the bathroom to get into the cabin was particularly unappealing, leaving no privacy when showering and dressing. Gee, a girl (or guy) has to have a few private moments now and then!

Yesterday, after Tom spent time-off and on over the past several months, researching possible future cruises and after spending considerable time since the family departed, he was ready to book two cruises. 

Usually, when booking cruises we’ve had to pay a $450 deposit per person, resulting in tying up $900 of our money for as long as two years into the future. 

When we’d booked several cruises, we disliked the idea of a cruise line having that much of our money for such an extended period. It made no sense at all. But, waiting to book a cruise could result in a lack of availability of preferred sailing dates and cabin selection.

A single shrub against the backdrop of the roaring sea.

While on our last cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu on the Celebrity Solstice, we prepaid two cruise deposits in advance for $200 each, a promo-only offered onboard the ship. It wasn’t necessary to choose which cruises we wanted at that point. The deposits would remain in place indefinitely until we chose cruises.

Yesterday, our prepaid $200 deposits came into play when we booked the two cruises, three and a half months apart, on the Celebrity Solstice, the same ship that brought us to Hawaii in October 2014.

Today, we’ll share the details of the first of these two cruises and tomorrow, the second, leaving us with a total of five cruises booked in the future, all of which we’ll list collectively in tomorrow’s post.

Budding lilies in the yard.

Here are the details of this cruise we booked yesterday, oddly sailing on the day of our four year anniversary of leaving on our journey to travel the world. We booked an upgraded cabin resulting in a total cost for a balcony cabin on the starboard side for an unobstructed view (of lifeboats) for a total of $4143.81 including tax and gratuities for both of us. Here are the details, including the itinerary.

FastDeal 11541
14 nights departing October 31, 2016 on
Celebrity’s Celebrity Solstice
Brochure Inside $2,598
Our Inside $1,249
You Save 52%
Brochure Oceanview $3,198
Our Oceanview $1,599
You Save 50%
Brochure Balcony $3,598
Our Balcony $1,699
You Save 53%
Brochure Suite $7,198
Our Suite $3,599
You Save 50%
The prices shown are US dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. They include port charges but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees.
Important Note: Visas are required for this itinerary.
ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Mon Oct 31 Singapore 5:00pm
Tue Nov 1 At Sea
Wed Nov 2 At Sea
Thu Nov 3 Benoa, Bali 8:00am 5:00pm
Fri Nov 4 At Sea
Sat Nov 5 At Sea
Sun Nov 6 Darwin, Australia 8:00am 4:00pm
Mon Nov 7 At Sea
Tue Nov 8 At Sea
Wed Nov 9 Cairns, Australia 9:00am 5:00pm
Thu Nov 10 Airlie Beach, Australia 9:00am 5:00pm
Fri Nov 11 At Sea
Sat Nov 12 Brisbane, Australia 8:00am 5:00pm
Sun Nov 13 At Sea
Mon Nov 14 Sydney, Australia 6:00am

On some of our cruises, we return to the cities and countries we’ve already visited.  We never mind this fact.  For this cruise, we’ll have already been to Sydney, Cairns, and Bali. However, we don’t mind the redundancy at all. Seeing an area from a cruise ship is an interesting part of the experience that we never fail to enjoy.

Actually, many ports of call in our upcoming cruises may be repeats at some point. But, the fact that we have an opportunity to see new locations as well only adds to the experience. For both of us, being on the ship itself is delightful giving us an opportunity to interact with other travelers, making new friends along the way.

Booking these two cruises leaves a few holes in our itinerary. During the upcoming four months in Kauai, we’ll be busy filling those gaps and considering the last booking we have scheduled to date, the end of the second cruise, March 13, 2017. Our goal is to always be booked for the upcoming two years. 

As a result, we’ll soon begin booking beyond March 13, 2017. How exciting, that will be!

Photo from one year ago today, January 10, 2014:

It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that Tom spotted the Mozambique Spitting Cobra next to his bare foot as we sat on the veranda in Marloth Park.  He jumped away while I ran for the camera.  This jittery photo was a result of my hands shaking a bit as I shot this through the clothes line rack when the snake tried to get into the house.  Tom moved it with the mop as shown in the right side of the photo.  For more details on this story, please click here.

Another new beginning…Hello, Waikiki for 11 nights!…Final cruise bill!…Interesting financial facts…A year ago today, first day on safari…Check out the photos!

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A Bottle Nosed Dolphin we spotted from the ship!

As we hear the grumbles of frustration from many passengers that are disappointed that the cruise ends today, we keep our mouths shut, shaking our heads in understanding.

Nothing ends here for us today by way of leaving the Celebrity Solstice. We have 11 nights in Waikiki in an oceanview condo with a washer and dryer in the building! Yippee! What more could we ask for?

Shops and restaurants in Kona.

No, it doesn’t feel like a vacation spending almost eight months in Hawaii. It now feels like a good life, leaving little time or circumstance resulting in boredom or a sense of the mundane. 

How will we ever settle down when we so love this life of constant change and challenge? We intend to continue on until we can’t, old age being the unavoidable obstacle and eventuality. 

As the tender approached the pier in Hilo, there were swimmers at the beach.

Today, we’ll play our usual role of “cattle” herded off the ship with assigned numbers and times, making our way down the ramps to the street where hopefully, we’ll quickly find a taxi to take us to our resort hotel in Waikiki Beach. 

Check-in time isn’t until 2:00 pm. We’ll wait in the lobby, more easily entertaining ourselves with a stronger (hopefully) WiFi signal while we commence preparing Monday’s post with photos galore.

Restaurants lined the shore in Kona.

We have no delusions about the crowds, the traffic, the noise and the smells of fried foods (as mentioned by daughter Tammy about Waikiki). None whatsoever. After all, since July 31st, we’ve been in Paris, London and Vancouver for 16 nights, 15 nights and 6 nights, respectively. We know and accept the annoyances of big cities.

But, we always find ways to entertain ourselves, seeing the sites we prefer to see, taking photos, writing here each day, eating the local foods (that which I can eat and which Tom will like) until 11 days later, we’ll head to the blissful quiet of Maui, away from the usual tourist locations.

Afternoon sun in Maui, from our veranda.

Our final bill for this cruise excluding the fare was $805.88.  The fare for this 12 day Hawaiian cruise, Vancouver to Honolulu was $4116.02 which included tax, $288 tips, $175 on board credit for a grand total of $4921.90.  The average cost per day including all costs was $410.16. 

Had we lived in a vacation rental for 12 days with a rental car, groceries, dining out and other miscellaneous expenses, our cost would have been roughly at $200 per day for a total of $2400.  

Adding the cost of airfare to reach Hawaii from any location could easily have been another $2000 for a total of $4400 for an average daily cost of $366.67. In essence, the cruise cost us an additional $521.90. The benefit we enjoy is the fact that we don’t have to pay for home sitting empty with all of its expenses, while we’re on “vacation.”

Kaanapali Beach, Maui, the famous strip of hotels and resorts along the coveted popular tourist attraction. Years ago, BT, I visited this location on several occasions when long hours in the sun and late-night fun were on the agenda. Not so much of that now.

Here we begin, dear readers, another leg of our journey with no end, only two months from seeing our family at long last which ultimately was our primary motivation for visiting Hawaii at this time in our travels.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos of our new temporary home, basically, a hotel room with a tiny kitchen which will easily fulfill our needs during this short 11-day stay and of course, our first photos of Waikiki Beach, as we breathe in the smell of the ocean air, flowers, and fried foods.

Aloha.

                                               Photo from one year ago today, October 5, 2013:

Our first day on safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, one year ago today.

This scene was our first while we waited nearby the airport for other safari participants to arrive to drive to the camp with us. Anderson, our tour guide throughout the adventure, decided to take us for a quick peek while we waited the 45 minutes. We couldn’t believe our eyes but, it was only a taste of what was yet to come!  For details and many more exciting photos, please click here.

End of cruise…Final cruise bill…Hello, Boston!…The city where I was born…Three days until we depart for Vancouver…

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On our last day at sea, the sun peeked out. The photo was taken using my new camera! Yeah!

The fare for both of us for an upgraded balcony cabin for the 14-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas was US $3976.70 including taxes and gratuities.

Always on top of the fare is the bill for items not included in the fare. For the 14 nights, our bill was US $939 which included: Tom’s drinks, one of four (at US $379) excursions three of which we’d paid in advance for private tours, one US $399 Internet package for Tom’s computer and the cost of dining in specialty restaurants on three occasions. 

We were cautious with our spending staying well within our budget of US $1200 for extras aboard the ship. As a result, the grand total US $4915.70. For the 14 days, the average daily rate was US $351.12, certainly no more than the average cost per day for a hotel, transportation, and meals.

It’s hard to believe the cruise is over. We’ve had a fabulous time meeting new people, hanging out with other fans of CruiseCritic, and engaging in several planned fun activities including Meet and Mingle, Slot Pull (58 of us won US $1 each), the Cabin Crawl, a special luncheon, dining in specialty restaurants with new friends and more.

We’ll stay in touch with our news friends whom we hope to see in the future. 

A sunny morning at the pier in Boston.

Somehow, with the annoying WiFi issues, we’ve managed to post for most of the 14-day cruise.

We didn’t become ill on this cruise by beefing up our sanitation methods including wrapping cloth napkins on our hands when using tongs and salt and pepper shakers in the buffet restaurant.

When walking up or down stairs we avoiding touching handrails and made every effort to avoid shaking hands which when unavoidable, prompted us to immediately wash our hands. We washed the exterior of our mugs several times daily.

Neither of us suffered from seasickness on several days of rough seas. Nor did either of us get carsick on the 4×4 off-road adventure in Iceland.

We visited Normandy, France, soaking up the emotional historical facts and stories. We walked around Stonehenge in England and visited the Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland, and sites in the port of Cobh, Ireland, the last port of call for the Titanic, a hundred years ago. We dined in an authentic pub in Ireland.

We toured barren Iceland, fascinated with its geothermal activity where the most active volcano is currently hinging on a major eruption. We traveled in a crazy beefed up 4×4 vehicle on a fast running river and up mountains with no roads. We never saw the Northern Lights in the two days in Iceland when it rained constantly nor the volcano which was too far away.

We dined, we laughed, we slept well including on the nights of rough seas, of which there many. We experienced seven-time zone changes, flipping our digital equipment and biological clocks back and forth.

We purchased a new camera aboard the ship, tax-free, at a competitive price, and learned to use it when lounging in the cabin. More on that later when we post our first photos.

The port in Boston.

We attended a few shows, a few seminars, and listened to a welcoming speech by the ship’s captain. We dined in specialty restaurants on three occasions at a total combined cost of US $128 with excellent food and service.

As I write this now, it’s Sunday morning on September 14th. We’re waiting to be the last off the ship as we usually do, to avoid standing in line with our luggage, the MiFi keeping us online. 

Soon, we’ll disembark the ship to grab a taxi to the airport to pick up the rental car to head to our prepaid hotel in Stoughton, Massachusetts, close to where family members reside. 

Most likely, we’ll arrive too early for check-in but, we’ll use the time wisely to run a few errands while we wait including a much-needed trip to a laundromat where we desperately need to do laundry. We’ve placed all the dirty clothing in the duffel bag, making doing so easy.

It’s our first time on US soil in 17 months when we were in Florida for a cruise. Shopping in a US store will be a novelty which I anticipate with childlike wonder.  

It’s been a good cruise. As always, we’ve reveled in each moment, all the while knowing what lies ahead is exciting, carrying with us the memories of everyone we’ve met, everywhere we’ve been and, everywhere we’ll be in the future.

Of course, we excitedly anticipate seeing our loved ones in December as we work our way to the next leg of our journey, the cruise to Hawaii where we’ll live for seven months on four different islands.

The other night, I was engaged in a conversation with a passenger who asked what we’ll do in Hawaii for seven months. I paused for a moment, looked into her eyes, and said, “We’ll live our lives, our lives of simplicity and ease, cherishing all the exquisite gifts the islands have to offer all the while sharing our story in words and photos about life in Hawaii. 

Buildings at the busy port of Boston.

We’ll share the beauty of each island, its natural wonders, its vegetation, its wildlife, and the expenses one might incur living full or part time in the islands. We’ll research its rich history, mingle with its people, embrace its authentic culture, hoping the avoid the typical tourist attractions. 

With ocean views at each location, we’ll spend many hours exploring and many more hours gazing at the sea whale and other wildlife watching. 
 
And now, over these next few days, we’ll be in Boston, where I was born many moons ago, where my father passed away when I was 12, when we lived in Massachusetts for a mere two years, only to lose him while living there. 

In the next few days, after we visit his gravesite, we’ll share photos and the story of losing him through a horrifying tragic accident in 1960.

Life is filled with many joys and many sorrows. We’ve all been blessed with the exquisite opportunity and privilege of choosing the course of our lives and how we handle the challenges along the way. We’ve chosen ours, dear readers, which we’ll continue to share with all of you each and every day.

                                          Photo from one year ago today, September 14, 2013:
Due to WiFi problems in Kenya and multiple power outages, we weren’t able to post on this date one year ago.

Benefits of booking future cruises while on a cruise…What’s a drink package?…Tomorrow, we’ll be in Boston…

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The sun finally appeared over the rough waters ended as we traversed across the Atlantic Ocean.

Perceived value is everything. While on a cruise, there are a few ways in which to save money. We’ve found it important to carefully analyze cruise offers to ensure they are in fact worthwhile. In some cases, we’re pleasantly surprised and in others disappointed that its “six of one, half dozen of another,” essentially perceived value.

Tom, caught off guard while chatting with another passenger.

To purchase a drink package upon boarding one is allowed unlimited alcoholic beverages (not premium) each day of the cruise. At a cost of approximately US $70 plus 15% gratuity per person per day, it may not be worthwhile to purchase a package. Most cruise lines have multiple packages from which to choose. Its best to check with the cruise line selected when each offers varying priced packages.

Many cruise lines requires both partners of a couple to purchase the package to avoid “sharing.” This doesn’t work for us. Other cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, will allow one person to purchase the package. 

Josey, whom we met aboard the ship, showed us the beautiful quilt she made during the cruise using a portable showing machine she’d packed. Many passengers busy themselves with their favorite hobbies and forms of relaxation while cruising.

In Tom’s case, it never makes sense for him to purchase the package when he’d never drink enough cocktails in a day to pay for itself. On an average night, he may have two cocktails at most, usually at US $8 each (plus tip). 

Aerial equipment for an upcoming show.

There are non-alcoholic packages that run under US $20 but, I don’t drink specialty coffees, teas, soda, or very much bottled water. The ship’s water is purified through reverse osmosis and I’m fine drinking that. 

View from above the Centrum area.

Onboard ship, I drink hot black tea which is included in the fare and for a cold beverage, our own made ice tea.  At dinner, I order plain water or hot tea neither of which incur a charge

Singer rehearsing for the show.

On the upcoming cruise from Sydney to Auckland in January 2016, Tom opted for the drink package when it was offered as a perk for booking the cruise as opposed to other perks, none of which would save us as much as the drink package. 

The dancer’s costumes were elaborate for the upcoming evening’s entertainment.

That will be the first cruise on which he’ll have chosen the drink package.  In that particular case, the drink package included both of us but, it still made financial sense to choose this free perk. So, I’ll order occasional sparkling water. No big deal.

Dancers during daytime rehearsal for nighttime entertainment in the Centrum area.

As for other perks aboard the ship, there is the popular cruise “open booking” option which includes the following benefits:

  • US $200 deposit for two, as opposed to the usual US $900 deposit. For long away cruises, this makes sense when it’s foolish to have several US $900 deposits out there as far as two years or more
  • Onboard credit up to US $250 for balcony cabins (the lowest category we’ll select) or as much as US $400 should we choose a suite which we may select if pricing is right
  • Choosing a specific cruise when paying these deposits is not required. The deposit(s) are held by the cruise line until we’re ready to commit to a cruise.
  • Our current cruise agency, in our case Anna Urban at Vacations to Go, will receive their usual credit when we eventually book the cruise. This is important to us when we appreciate the diligent work the agency has done for us over the past few years.
  • Pre-booking guarantees the lowest cruise fare up to 90 days before sailing date but as always its up to us to keep tabs on price changes. Tom has an app for that, CruiseFish.net (small fee) or the free alert system at CruiseCritic.com
Decorative ship’s wheel.

We’re planning to purchase two open-ended cruises while on our upcoming cruise to Hawaii with two deposits paid for a total of US $400. Still unsure of which cruises we’ll eventually book, we’ll receive the lowest and best possible prices when we’ve found cruises can be worked into our schedule.

Through the tinted glass in the aft of the ship after the rough seas settled down.

Last night we had a most enjoyable dinner in the specialty restaurants, Chop’s Grille, with our new friends whom we adore, Laura and Michael. We’re already planning to see them in the future and definitely we’ll be staying in touch until then.

The cruise ending tomorrow doesn’t leave us feeling sad or disappointed. With three days in Boston with family, six days in Vancouver and another cruise to Hawaii, we’re elated over the prospect of each day.

We’ll be back tomorrow while we wait to disembark the cruise with more new photos. Have a happy Saturday, dear readers, and many more days to come.

                                              Photo from one year ago, September 13, 2013:

It was one year ago today, that we booked our safari in the Maasai Mara (there are two spellings for Masai and Maasai). We were so excited especially knowing that three weeks later we’d be on our way. For details from that date, please click here,

Another cruise itinerary, prices and details for a new booking on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas…A year ago…a recipe…

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Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas is a larger capacity ship with cabins for 3835 passengers than yesterday’s posted Celebrity Solstice’s  at 2850. We prefer smaller ships but its not always possible to find both the preferred size, itinerary and dates. The ship’s size is near the bottom of the list of our criteria.

Here’s is the total price (for two) we paid for an upgraded cabin category not shown on the various cabin categories as listed prices below.  Vacations to Go, as well as other cruise agencies, tend to list the lowest priced cabin in a category to attract passengers, later fine-tuning the price to include specific preferences

Cruise (includes port charges)   $4,283.00
Government Taxes*        431.20
Pre-Paid Gratuities        384.00
Pre Paid Gratuities       -384.00
 

 
Total                        US  $ 4,714.20

   
Overall, we saved approximately US $500, EU $367.57, off the lowest posted price for this cruise, comparable to the savings on yesterday’s posted cruise on the Celebrity Solstice.
 

16 nights departing April 12, 2016 on
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas
Cheapest Inside $1,380
Cheapest Oceanview $1,800
Cheapest Balcony $2,145
Cheapest Suite $3,052
No brochure rates were provided by Royal Caribbean. The prices shown are US dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. They include port charges but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees.
Important Note: Visas are required for this itinerary.
ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Tue Apr 12 Sydney, Australia 9:00pm
Wed Apr 13 At Sea
Thu Apr 14 At Sea
Fri Apr 15 Wellington, New Zealand 3:00pm 10:00pm
Sat Apr 16 Picton, New Zealand 8:00am 6:00pm
Sun Apr 17 At Sea
Mon Apr 18 Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand 7:00am 5:00pm
Tue Apr 19 Dusky Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 9:00am 10:00am
Tue Apr 19 Doubtful Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) Noon 1:00pm
Tue Apr 19 Milford Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 4:30pm 5:30pm
Wed Apr 20 At Sea
Thu Apr 21 At Sea
Fri Apr 22 Melbourne, Australia 8:00am 7:00pm
Sat Apr 23 At Sea
Sun Apr 24 Adelaide, Australia 8:00am 7:00pm
Mon Apr 25 At Sea
Tue Apr 26 At Sea
Wed Apr 27 At Sea
Thu Apr 28 Perth (Fremantle), Australia 6:00am
800-338-4962

With these two new cruises booked along with the cruise we’ll be taking from Hawaii to Australia on May 24, 2015 plus, the two upcoming cruises over the next several months, we now have a total of five booked cruises over a period of fewer than two years.

Although this may seem self-indulgent, we’ve made a point of choosing affordable vacation rentals to ensure we’re always able to incorporate cruising into our itinerary and stay within the strict constraints of our budget.

Sure, at times, we’re tempted to step outside the confines of the budget and “go for it!” But, we don’t. Knowing full well that doing so simply results in forcing ourselves to further tighten our belts in the future, sacrificing some of the comforts that bring us such pleasure; good food; great surroundings; and amazing views.

Each rental we choose, each cruise we book, every meal we eat, each necessary flight we take all draw from the bottom line. There’s no room or reason to push ourselves to a point of stress and worry for added luxury. 

This particular ship is rated 4.5 stars due to its age, built in 2000, refurbished in 2010 which will again be refurbished again in 2015 and completed one year prior to our sailing on May 24, 2016. We’ll be anxious to see if it’s rating increases after the renovations. In any case, we have found that we favor some of the older ships with their “Hollywood” flair.

VacationsToGo

(If interested in booking a cruise with Anna Urban at Vacations to Go,
please click the above blue link for her email address. We are not affiliated with VTG
other than as a customer).

Explorer of the Seas

Ship Rating: 
The 138,000-ton Explorer of the Seas is loaded with recreational amenities: an ice-skating rink, in-line skating track, rock-climbing wall, television studio and full-size, open-air basketball court. The Royal Promenade, which runs through the center of the ship, is longer than a football field and wide enough to accommodate three lanes of traffic. Here you’ll find restaurants, shops, entertainment and street performers. The basketball court converts to a volleyball court, and there’s also a golf simulator, nine-hole miniature golf course and jogging track. Adventure Beach, just for families, has its own pool. Spots for socializing include a champagne bar, cigar club, sports bar, jazz club, dance club and a cocktail lounge at the top of the ship. Hungry? There’s a casual grill, ice-cream parlor, the Windjammer Cafe and Johnny Rocket’s, modeled after an authentic 1950s diner (complete with jukebox). Portofino, an intimate reservations-only restaurant serving Italian fare, complements three main dining rooms.
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2000
Last Refurbished 2010
Tonnage 138,000 tons
Registry Bahamas
Length 1,020 feet
Beam 158 feet
Passenger Capacity 3,835
Crew Size 1,185
Total Inside Cabins 618
Total Outside Cabins 939
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 757
Suites 119
Maximum Occupancy per room 8
Age Restrictions One person must be 21 or older
Dinner Seatings 2
Seating Assignments 
in Main Dining Room		 Assigned
Dining Hours 6:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Recommended? Yes
Tipping Guidelines Royal Caribbean will automatically add a $12.00 USD gratuity ($14.25 USD for Suite guests) to each guest’s onboard SeaPass® account on a daily basis. 15% tip included on beverage orders.
Onboard Currency US Dollar
Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges 12
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Casino Yes
Chapel Yes
Disco/Dancing Yes
Elevators 4
Hot Tub 6
Cell Phone Service Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Note: Available in certain areas
Laundry/Dry Cleaning Yes
Library Yes
Movie Theatre Yes
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings Yes
Self Serve Laundromats No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Spa Yes
Video Arcade Yes
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court Yes
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator Yes
Ice Skating Rink Yes
Jogging Track Yes
Mini-Golf Course Yes
Rock Climbing Wall Yes
Swimming Pool 3
Note: 1 Heated
Tennis Court No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Cabin Features & Amenities
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting Yes
Children’s Playroom Yes
Kiddie Pool Yes
Supervised Youth Program Yes
Teen Center Yes
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		 Yes
Kosher Meals Yes
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins 26

Then again, there’s a certain degree of “safari luck” which allows us to rent superior properties at reasonable negotiated prices when we find vacation rentals that appear more expensive and out of our reach.

In the next few days, we’ll be sharing a few more of these; two more booked vacation homes in the South Pacific that we’ve yet to mention, that literally make us jump for joy. Keep an eye out over the next few days. 

The cruise described here today is a long way off, 21 months to be exact. We booked these two cruises early when we noticed online that some of their better cabins were fast being booked. 

Please scroll to the right to see the full deck plan.  We’ve chosen a cabin on this level at the “bump-out” area for enhanced viewing. As always, we checked the itinerary to ensure we will be on the better side of the ship for viewing as we sail past land. Note the deck plan indicates the location of cabins after the renovations are complete on 4/24/2015, one year before we sail.

Explorer of the Seas Deck 8 (starts 4-24-15)

Royal Family Suite with Balcony

Category FS

Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long (one room with third and fourth Pullman beds), two bathrooms (one with shower, one with bathtub), living area with double sofa bed, private balcony, and concierge service. Stateroom can accommodate up to 8 guests. (561 sq. ft., balcony 246 sq. ft.)
Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Category D1

Category D2

Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, private balcony, sitting area and a private bathroom. Rates vary from deck to deck. (179 sq. ft., balcony 52 sq. ft.)
Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Category E1

Category E2

Category E3

Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, private balcony sitting area with sofa and a private bathroom. Rates vary from deck to deck. (164 sq. ft., balcony 51 sq. ft.)
Family Ocean View Stateroom

Category FO

Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, additional bunk beds in separate area, separate sitting area with sofa bed, and a private bathroom with shower. Stateroom can accommodate up to 6 guests. (265 sq. ft.)
Large Ocean View Stateroom

Category F

Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, sitting area with sofa, vanity area and a private bathroom. (178 sq. ft.)
Promenade Stateroom

Category PR

Bowed windows with a view of the Royal Promenade, two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, sitting area with sofa, vanity area, and a private bathroom. (160 sq. ft.)
Interior Stateroom

Category K

Category M

Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, sitting area, vanity area, and a private bathroom. (150 sq. ft.)
Legend:
Stateroom with sofa bed.
Stateroom has third Pullman bed available.
Stateroom has third and fourth Pullman bed available.
Connecting staterooms.
Indicates accessible staterooms.
Stateroom with sofa bed and third Pullman bed available.
Stateroom has four additional Pullman beds available.
Deck 8 (starts 4-24-15)

Another important factor we must mention is the “bill” we’ll receive on the last night of any cruise which includes charges for WiFi (no refunds for unused data), beverages if not included in a pre-purchased beverage package, gratuities if not included in original costs such as for our personal cabin steward, favorite bartender or a special server in a restaurant, specialty restaurants, spa services and any purchases made in any of the ship’s shops all of which offer overpriced merchandise. 

We always ensure that we have plenty of toiletries to last throughout the cruise. The cost of a tube of toothpaste, razors, or a bottle of Tylenol can be outrageous. All charges are charged to the credit card kept on file which is charged periodically to the card. One must ascertain that they have plenty of “room” on their card or another credit card on hand as these expenses add up quickly. 

There are expensive ATMs aboard ship and a bank where one can exchange currency. But, the fees for these services may be higher than expected. We don’t gamble on ships or otherwise, although we’ve seen many passengers hovering at an ATM when their gambling isn’t going well. Casinos on ships are less likely than land casinos to produce winners.

Checking on daily cruise updates has always been a “Tom task” when I’m busy updating the spreadsheets with our ongoing expenses and related tasks. Besides, he enjoys doing it where I have little interest in watching the status of cruises until it actually applies to us. It’s through Tom’s diligent research that we’ve been able to secure great pricing and cabins.

At the moment, all of our cruises and vacation homes are booked with required deposits paid. Today, after writing here and a trip to the little local market to have our skilled butcher cut meat for us, I’ll start logging our latest bookings that have been wrapped up over the past several days.

Please check back tomorrow and Thursday for two very exciting updates to our itinerary with many photos.  In the interim, we revel in the excitement of these two cruises, one highlighted today and the other in yesterday’s post.

Stay tuned.

Photo from one year ago today, July 8, 2013:

We posted our favorite low carb, sugar-free coleslaw recipe and how we’ve had to cut the cabbage by hand when we can’t ever find bagged shredded cabbage and carrots. For the recipe and detail from that day, please click here.

Cruise itinerary, prices and details for a new booking on the Celebrity Solstice…

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Celebrity is our favorite cruise line. This is the ship we’ll sail on for 14 nights beginning on January 5, 2016, ending on January 19, 2016. Built in 2008, it’s rated 5.5 stars, of a possible 6 stars  We love the smaller size of 2850 passengers as opposed to many of the larger ships with a capacity with upwards of 5000 passengers.

In 18 months, on January 4, 2016, we’ll be departing Fiji to arrive in Sydney, Australia, spending one night in a hotel. 

The following day, we’ll make our way to the Port of Sydney to board this 14 night cruise on the Celebrity Solstice as listed below which ends in Auckland, New Zealand on January 19, 2016 when we’ll make our way to New Plymouth, New Zealand to live on the on the Alpaca Farm for 83 days. 

Please refer to Part 1 and Part 2 posts from the past two days to see all the criteria and factors that come into play when pricing a cruise. Please click these links below in the event you missed them over the weekend:
Part 1, Booking cruises
Part 2, Booking cruises

When reviewing the prices below it appears that our total cost for two would be US $4498 EU $3676.69. Not so fast. Based on the addition of taxes, fees, and gratuities and the upgraded category for our preferred cabin number, the cost had jumped to a total of US $5340.32, EU $3928.51.

By researching prices for our choices. we were able to find an all-inclusive total for US $4771, EU $3509.70 through the free site, Cruise Compete. 

By doing so, we then asked  Anna at Vacations to Go to match this best price. She was able to match the price after sending her the link as to where we found the best pricing. In other words, many cruise agencies have the ability to “match the best price found.” However, proof in writing that the best price is always required when asking for the best price discount.

14 nights departing January 5, 2016 on
Celebrity’s Celebrity Solstice
Brochure Inside $3,298
Our Inside $1,649
You Save 50%
Brochure Oceanview $3,998
Our Oceanview $1,999
You Save 50%
Brochure Balcony $4,498
Our Balcony $2,249
You Save 50%
Brochure Suite $8,298
Our Suite $4,149
You Save 50%
$$$ Book now and receive a FREE US$100 per cabin onboard credit on select categories plus choose one of the following offers on  select oceanview, balcony, and suite categories: an additional US$300 per cabin onboard credit (for a total per cabin onboard credit of US$400), FREE pre-paid gratuities (a per cabin value of US$336 to US$434), or a FREE beverage package for two, which includes select alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages onboard (a per cabin value of US$1,372).
Promotions may not be combinable with all fares.
The prices shown are US dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. They include port charges but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees.
Important Note: Visas are required for this itinerary.
ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Tue Jan 5 Sydney, Australia 6:30pm
Wed Jan 6 At Sea
Thu Jan 7 Melbourne, Australia 8:00am 6:00pm
Fri Jan 8 At Sea
Sat Jan 9 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 8:00am 6:00pm
Sun Jan 10 At Sea
Mon Jan 11 At Sea
Tue Jan 12 Milford Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 8:00am 9:00am
Tue Jan 12 Doubtful Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 1:30pm 2:30pm
Tue Jan 12 Dusky Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 4:30pm 6:00pm
Wed Jan 13 Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand 9:00am 7:00pm
Thu Jan 14 Akaroa, New Zealand 8:00am 6:00pm
Fri Jan 15 Wellington, New Zealand 8:00am 6:00pm
Sat Jan 16 At Sea
Sun Jan 17 Tauranga, New Zealand 8:00am 6:00pm
Mon Jan 18 Bay of Islands, New Zealand 7:00am 6:00pm
Tue Jan 19 Auckland, New Zealand 6:00am

Here are the details of the ship, the Celebrity Solstice, rated a 5.5 stars (out of a possible 6 stars):

VacationsToGo.com

Celebrity Solstice

Ship Rating: 
The first ship to be a part of Celebrity’s Solstice class, the Celebrity Solstice features many of the personal amenities passengers have come to expect from Celebrity while carrying 2,850 passengers. Each of the ships in the Solstice class feature wireless Internet throughout, larger staterooms with flat screen televisions, spacious bathrooms, more storage space and plush European bedding. Balconies are available in 85% of the ship’s staterooms, and the Solstice-class ships include an exceptional range of guest-inspired services and amenities made possible due to the ships’ larger size. Spa-enthusiasts aboard the Celebrity Solstice can enjoy the 130 “AquaClass” veranda staterooms, with unlimited access to the Aqua Spa relaxation room and the Persian Garden, and exotic aromatherapy and steam room. AquaClass guests also receive exclusive complimentary dining in Blu, an intimate 130-seat specialty restaurant.
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2008
Tonnage 122,000 tons
Registry Malta
Length 1,033 feet
Beam 121 feet
Passenger Capacity 2,850
Crew Size 999
Total Inside Cabins 102
Total Outside Cabins 1,323
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 1,177
Suites 56
Maximum Occupancy per room 5
Age Restrictions One person must be 21 or older
Dinner Seatings 2
Seating Assignments 
in Main Dining Room		 Assigned
Dining Hours 6:15 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Recommended? Yes
Tipping Guidelines Added to onboard account. $12.00 per person, per day in staterooms, $12.50 per person, per day for Concierge/Aqua class, $15.50 per person, per day for Suites. 15% tip included on beverage orders.
Onboard Currency US Dollar
Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges 14
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Casino Yes
Chapel No
Disco/Dancing Yes
Elevators Yes
Hot Tub 10
Cell Phone Service Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Note: Available in certain areas
Laundry/Dry Cleaning Yes
Library Yes
Movie Theatre Yes
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings Yes
Self Serve Laundromats No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Spa Yes
Video Arcade Yes
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court Yes
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Ice Skating Rink No
Jogging Track Yes
Mini-Golf Course No
Rock Climbing Wall No
Swimming Pool 3
Tennis Court No
Cabin Features & Amenities
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting Yes
Children’s Playroom Yes
Kiddie Pool No
Supervised Youth Program Yes
Teen Center Yes
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		 Yes
Kosher Meals Yes
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins 30
Speak to a Cruise Specialist

800-180-095
Call toll free from Portugal to our US offices

Open Mon 12am-4am, 12:30pm-12am, Tue-Fri 12am-8am, 12:30pm-12am, 
Sat 12am-8am, 3pm – 12am, Sun 12am-2am, 4pm-12am

Here is the deck plan for the Celebrity Solstice from which we chose our preferred cabin on this level in Category 2B.  Please scroll to the right to see the far right of the entire deck plan. 

Celebrity Solstice Deck 7 – Sunrise

Sky Suite

Category S1

Features include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, two beds convertible to queen-size, bathroom with shower/tub combination and washbasin, living room with sofa queen sleeper and vanity, mini refrigerator, 40″ LCD TV, and veranda with lounge seating. (stateroom: 300 sq. ft., veranda: 79 sq. ft.)
Family Ocean View Stateroom with Veranda

Category FV

Features include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, master bedroom with two beds convertible to queen-size, second bedroom with one twin bed, sitting area with sofa convertible to trundle bed, vanity, privacy partition, 32″ LCD TV and veranda. (stateroom: 575 sq. ft., veranda: 53 to 105 sq. ft.)
Sunset Veranda

Category SV

Features include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, sitting area with sofa, two beds convertible to queen-size, vanity, 32″ LCD TV and veranda. Some staterooms may have a trundle bed. (stateroom: 194 sq. ft., veranda: 54 sq. ft.)
Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Veranda

Category 1A

Category 2A

Category 2B

Features include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, two beds convertible to queen-size, sitting area with sofa, vanity, 32″ LCD TV and veranda. Some staterooms may have a trundle bed. (stateroom: 194 sq. ft., veranda: 54 sq. ft.)
Ocean View Stateroom

Category 07

Features include an ocean view window, two beds convertible to queen-size, vanity, 32″ LCD TV and a sitting area with sofa. Some cabins may have a trundle bed. (177 sq. ft.)
Inside Stateroom

Category 11

Features include two beds convertible to queen-size, vanity, 32″ LCD TV and sitting area with sofa. Some cabins may have a trundle bed.(183 to 200 sq. ft.)
Legend:
Convertible Sofa Bed
Inside Stateroom Door Location
One Upper Berth
Triple Occupancy
Quadruple Occupancy
Two Upper Berths
Connecting Staterooms
Wheelchair Accessible Stateroom Featuring Roll-In Showers
Deck 7 - Sunrise

In all, we’re thrilled with the price, our cabin selection and of course, the itinerary as shown above. As with all of our cruises, we’ll be sharing details and photos of the ship, the ports of call, the excursions we choose and the meals.

More follows tomorrow with details of the second cruise we booked in the past few days on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Photo from one year ago today, July 7, 2013:

A year ago, we wrote about mechanical issues and nuances of living in a 300-year-old house in Boveglio, Tuscany, Italy. his photo of Tom standing in the hallway, at 6 feet, 1.83 meters, his head almost reaches the ceiling. If he didn’t walk down the hall straight and centered, he’d bang his head. also note, the  upcoming doorway at eye level in which he had to duck to enter. For more details about the old stone house, please click here.